Hercules Transit Center is a major commuter hub in the western Contra Costa County city of Hercules, California. It is anchored by WestCAT bus services. The center was originally on San Pablo Avenue. In August 2009, the transit center was relocated to the other side of I-80 with additional paid parking, which is $3/day.[1]
The transit center is a pulse (a timed and synchronized) transfer point for various local feeder bus lines from the adjacent areas of Hercules, Pinole, Rodeo, the northern Hilltop area of Richmond, Bayview-Montalvin, and Tara Hills.
The feeder services direct express commuter bus service to El Cerrito del Norte BART station in El Cerrito, downtown Martinez (the county seat) and the Martinez Amtrak station. These services provide transfers to AC Transit at Richmond Parkway Transit Center, shopping areas at Hilltop Mall Shopping Center and Pinole Vista Shopping Center and weekday transbay service to the San Francisco Transbay Terminal.
The westbound weekday morning commute from this point south towards the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge is the most congested in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2001 according to Caltrans.
Studies have been concluded as to the feasibility of extending BART service to the Transit Center.[2] A larger, proposed Hercules Regional Intermodal Transit Center has been planned for the corner of Bayfront Boulevard and Railroad Avenue, though it would not necessarily discontinue the use of this facility.